5 Easy ways to fancy up a ponytail

Ponytail hairstyles

Praise the ponytail, our favorite shortcut for those hot summer days when you wouldn't dream of turning on a hair dryer. But it doesn't have to look like an afterthought. If you have just an extra minute, you can transform your ponytail from blah to beautiful with these easy, stylish ideas.

Braided base

Wrapping hair around the base of a ponytail is a quick fix that stylish gals rely on to create polish in an instant. Why not update the idea by braiding the piece of hair that covers the hair tie?

Gather hair into a ponytail -- high on the head like Katy Perry's 'do, or slightly lower at the ear line -- and secure with a hair tie. Separate a small section of hair from the underside of the ponytail and braid it. Holding the end of the braid so that it doesn't unravel, wrap it around the base of the ponytail to conceal the hair tie. To hold the braid in place, secure the end with a bobby pin pushed into the underside of the ponytail. Finish with hair spray.